In 2013 Filomena Campus launched her My Jazz Islands Festival, in which she seeks to unite her Sardinian roots with Italian and UK jazz musicians. Filomena Campus is a Sardinian jazz vocalist and lyricist, as well as a theatre director and producer. As a jazz vocalist Filomena has toured and collaborated with top UK jazz artists including Evan Parker, Guy Barker, Orphy Robinson, Huw Warren, Byron Wallen, Cleveland Watkiss, Jean Toussaint, Kenny Wheeler, the London Improvisers Orchestra and fellow Sardinian

musicians Paolo Fresu and Antonello Salis.

'Campus is a highly musical singer’ - The Telegraph

Theatralia Jazz Festival

"Years ago I left my island, Sardinia, for another island. Great Britain welcomed me and helped me to make many dreams come true. In a moment when everybody builds walls, we want to build a bridge between our two countries. A bridge made ​​of notes, of sand and myrtle, theater and masks, with the magic words of a great poet, Stefano Benni. Musical encounters started in 2013 with the first edition of the festival, previously called MY JAZZ ISLANDS.

Encouraged by the vision of PizzaExpress' manager Ross Dines we now welcome the festival's third edition.'

Filomena Campus

Theatralia Jazz Festival Artistic Director

Events

These events took place in 2015:

Paolo Fresu

4Njanas

9 November 2015 8.30pm

This special triple bill kicks off with a short set by celebrated Italian journalist Antonio di Bella. 4Njanas is a new and original project celebrating women's art and music featuring Filomena Campus (vocals), Tori Handsley (harp), Laura Cole (piano) and Ruth Goller (bass). A duo performance from the great Sardinian trumpeter and flugelhorn player Paolo Fresu together with tuba virtuoso Oren Marshall will top off a sensational evening of music.

'Misterioso' is a Journey into the Silence of Thelonious Monk, with a tribute to the sound of Billie Holiday, written by Stefano Benni with Cleveland Watkiss (Monk’s spoken voice, vocals), Robert Mitchell (piano), Orphy Robinson (vibes), Dudley Phillips (bass), Jean Toussaint (sax) and Filomena Campus (vocals)

"Hats off to the organisers for bringing together this mélange of the two cultures: romance, fun, satire, fine music, powerful performers, jazz from island to island. "

london jazz

Extra Events

Free events at the Italian Cultural Institute London and The Italian Bookshop.

Vocal Workshop

4 November 2015 6.30pm

Workshop by Filomena Campus and Cleveland Watkiss on songs inspired by Thelonious Monk. Open to singers and performers who want to improve their improvisation and vocal skills as well as their stage presence. Participants might be selected to perform on 6 November!

An evening of live music, theatre, projections and drinks as taster to the festival. Performances by Cleveland Watkiss, Filomena Campus, actresses Monica Nappo Kelly and Paola Cavallin. Special guests are radio DJ's Chris Phillips (JazzFM) and Ruth Fisher (Solar Radio).

Jazz star Paolo Fresu has performed around the world over the past 30 years, with a track record of 300 recordings. His unique trumpet sound is recognized as one of the most distinctive in the contemporary jazz scene.

'Fresu is one of the most seductive trumpet players in jazz, a heart-on-sleeve romantic, a purveyor of graceful, flowing lyricism, with a golden, sensual trumpet sound'

Oren Marshall is a pioneering player of acoustic tuba and electric tuba who, crossing between classical, jazz, improvised and world music. He has played with every major orchestra in London as well as with the Bolshoi Theatre Soloists, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Canadian Ballet. . As a solo artist, Oren has played all over the world and his ground-breaking solo work lead to a nomination for the BBC Innovation in Jazz Award, 2 years running.

Benni is an Italian satirical writer, poet and journalist. His books have been translated into around 20 foreign languages and scored notable commercial success. 2.5 million copies of his books have been sold in Italy.

'At his Italian readings he is treated more like a rock star than a writer. Huge audiences hang devotedly upon his every pronouncement'

Cleveland Watkiss is a British virtuoso vocalist, actor and composer. He was the winner of the London Jazz Awards for Best Vocalist in 2010 and was voted Wire/Guardian Jazz Awards best vocalist for three consecutive years.

Composer, arranger and performer, playing pedal, electric and latin harps.

Tori is an active member of the jazz and free improv scene and has performed with Nigel Kennedy, Orphy Robinson, Cleveland Watkiss, Pat Thomas, Kairos 4tet, and is now a member of the Jazz Warriors International. Tori also leads her own trio.

Laura Cole is a jazz composer/pianist who lives in Leeds but whose band Metamorphic is based in London. Her work with Metamorphic is recognised nationally.Laura also has a blog which discusses the issues that women face in music.

Antonio Di Bella

Journalist, Paris correspondent for Rai (Italian Public TV) Antonio Di Bella is also a musician and composer. His past assignements (New York and South America) influenced his musical style . Former editor in chief at TG3 and Rai3, he is always trying to use self irony to overcome the limits of Mediterranean journalism.

Robert Mitchell has released 8 albums, is a Steinway artist, composer, teacher and festival curator. He has worked with Grammy winners Bournemourth Symphony Chorus, Basement Jaxx, and many luminaries in jazz, classical, experimental, soul, hip hop and folk musics. He is soon recording albums with his bands Panacea, and a new trio.

One of the industry’s leading marimba players, vibraphone players, multi-instrumentalist, composers and musical directors. He has written for Theatre, Television, Opera, provided music scores for the 2012 London Olympics. Orphy is one of the founders of The Jazz Warriors International.

"Vibes player Orphy Robinson is a national treasure."- Telegraph

TICKETS

Get yourself a seat at the PizzaExpress Jazz Club, 10 Dean Street in Soho, W1D 3RW

Theatralia Jazz Festival organised under the high patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, received the support of the PizzaExpress Jazz Club, Italian Cultural Institute, the Italian Bookshop and Costa Rossa Sardegna.